Twenty-Seven Passenger Truck Chassis Buses

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for four Twenty-Seven Passenger truck chassis buses to be distributed across three Montana transit agencies: Flathead County, Toole County, and Big Sky Transportation District. This procurement involves specific detailed requirements for vehicle specifications, including make, model, year, body type, chassis details, seating configuration, and lift/ramp specifications. The solicitation was released on the Montana Acquisition & Contracting System (eMACS) with a bid opening on 6/1/2017 and a bid closing date of 6/27/2017 at 3:00 PM MST. Bidders must submit comprehensive documentation including Federal Certifications, Altoona Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act (STURAA) tests, Buy American documents, and Client Reference Forms. All prices are F.O.B. destination with shipping prepaid to specific Montana locations: Kalispell, Shelby, and Bozeman, with payment terms set at 0% 0, Net 30.

The procurement includes specific provisions for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and adherence to Motor Vehicle Pollution Standards. Potential bidders must log into the eMACS system to submit questions and bid responses, with the possibility of disqualification for incomplete submissions. The solicitation follows Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements and allows for approved equivalents and exceptions, though such requests must follow a specific process and will be addressed via addendum. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the procurement involves multiple buses across different transit agencies, suggesting a significant investment in transit infrastructure. Bidders must carefully navigate the complex compliance requirements, including technical specifications and federal regulations, to be considered for the contract.